Damariscotta-based MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital will transition to a new regional model for women’s health services and the system has committed to not close any additional labor and delivery programs for the next two years.
Under the new regional model, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital and MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital will operate as a coordinated regional OB-GYN and certified nurse midwife team, according to an Aug. 6 system news release. Mid Coast Hospital will become the primary facility for labor and delivery services, and comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care will continue at Lincoln Hospital. Lincoln Hospital also plans to expand its local gynecologic outpatient and surgical services. The new model will take effect Dec. 18.
The MaineHealth Board of Trustees also committed to not close any additional labor and delivery programs across the system in the next two years. The system is also calling on the state governor and legislature to bring together stakeholders to identify solutions to labor and delivery services in rural communities.
Currently, more than two-thirds of pregnant patients in Lincoln County deliver at hospitals other than Lincoln Hospital, according to the release. The hospital has not been able to establish the stable physician and clinical staffing necessary to support a reliable 24-hour labor and delivery program over the long term.
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